Two in five Brits have had to decide between buying food and paying bills, research reveals

Showing the impact of inflation, a new research by Post Office has revealed that 38 per cent of Brits have had to reduce spending on either food, essential household items or utilities in the last three months.

Three in four (75%) of these people have done so as a result of the increased cost of living, with food price increases (61%) and rise in energy bills (71%) given as key reasons. A similar number (76%) are also worried about their future financial situation over the next three months.

Worryingly 41 per cent of them have gone without food to feed other members of their family at some point over the last 12 months.

The research comes as Post Office partners with the charity Trussell Trust, which supports a nationwide network of over 1,300 food bank centres. Last year, food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network provided over 2.5m emergency food parcels to people in crisis, with nearly a million of these for children.

Until 31 March, anyone who uses cash withdrawal services over the counter at post office can help to make a big difference to individuals and families who may be facing very difficult decisions, with the business donating 1p for every cash withdrawal made in any of its 11,500 branches, to the Trussell Trust.

With over 1.5m over the counter cash withdrawals every week, Post Office hopes to raise £250,000.

Laura Joseph, customer experience director at Post Office, comments: “We’re proud to partner with the Trussell Trust – hunger and poverty in the UK is a very real issue that we all need to come together to tackle head on, especially in these unprecedented times.

“Millions of people will be paying bills over the counter at their local Post Office in the coming months and many of these customers may be facing very difficult financial decisions and need support from organisations like the Trussell Trust. We will make a donation to the Trussell Trust every time a customer withdraws cash at any of our 11,500 branches and hope to raise £250,000 to help fight poverty and hunger.”

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, commented: “Over the last five years, we have seen more and more people struggling to afford the essentials – such as food and clothing – for their families. Figures from our food bank network reveal more than 5,100 emergency food parcels were provided for people every day from April to September last year, and with the looming cost of living crisis, need for food banks looks set to increase.

“Our new partnership means that just by withdrawing cash at your local Post Office branch, you will be helping us support families who are having to make impossible decisions between heating and eating this winter, while supporting our work to end the need for food banks in the UK, for good.’’